UPI Almanac for Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Babe Ruth's pro debut, creation of Earth Day, death of a U.S. president … on this date in history.

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United Press International

A huge crowd gathers on the National Mall in Washington for The Climate Rally concert in April 2010, marking the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which was first observed April 22, 1970. Officials said tens of thousands of people attended Earth Day events on the anniversary. File Photo byKevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

The U.S. Postal Service introduced this stamp honoring Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium in New York City May 19, 1998. (Ruth began his pro baseball career April 22, 1914.) File Photo by HR Celestin/UPI
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The gravesite in Yorba Linda, Calif., of Richard M. Nixon is pictured Aug. 9, 1999. (The former president died April 22, 1994. ) File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

U.S. President Richard Nixon, who died April 22, 1994, signs a document at the White House in this March 1971 photo. File Photo by /Darryl Heikes/UPI | License Photo

Woody Allen arrives at the French premiere of the film "Blue Jasmine" in Paris on Aug. 27, 2013. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
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1972, Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke walked and rode on the surface of the moon for 7 hours, 23 minutes.

In 1985, Jose Sarney was sworn in as Brazil's first civilian president in 21 years.

In 1993, the Holocaust Memorial Museum was dedicated in Washington.

In 1994, Richard Nixon, the 37th U.S. president and the only one to resign from the office, died four days after suffering a stroke. He was 81.

In 1997, a 126-day standoff at the Japanese Embassy in Lima ended after Peruvian commandos stormed the building and freed 72 hostages held by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. All 14 rebels were killed.

In 2004, former NFL star Pat Tillman, who turned down a lucrative contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the U.S. Army Rangers, was killed in Afghanistan. (The U.S. military said later he was a victim of friendly fire.)

In 2005, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only man charged in the United States in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

In 2006, Iraq's Parliament ratified the selection of Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, ending a four-month political deadlock.

In 2010, Russia banned Scientology literature for "undermining the traditional spiritual values of the citizens of the Russian Federation."

In 2013, Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. (Eventually, Tsarnaev faced 17 federal charges in the April 15 attack that killed three people and injured more than 260. He was convicted in April 2015 on all charges.)

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Michigan law that bans preferential treatment on the "basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin" in admissions at public colleges and universities. It was a blow to affirmative action programs across the country.